2002 Spaceport News Summary The 2002 Spaceport News used the above banner for the year. In the banner, “Spaceport News” changed from black font to blue font, starting with the February 8, 2002, issue. The Inside feature stayed for the year, with article titles and page numbers on the left hand lower side of the first page of the Spaceport News. Introduction The first issue of the Spaceport News was December 13, 1962. The 1963, 1964 and 1965 Spaceport News were issued weekly. The Spaceport News was issued every two weeks, starting July 7, 1966, until the last issue on February 24, 2014. Spaceport Magazine, a monthly issue, superseded the Spaceport News in April 2014, until the final issue, Jan./Feb. 2020. The two 1962 Spaceport News issues and the issues from 1996 until the final Spaceport Magazine issue, are available for viewing at this website. The Spaceport News issues from 1963 through 1995 are currently not available online. In this Summary, black font is original Spaceport News text, blue font is something I added or someone else/some other source provided, and purple font is a hot link. All links were working at the time I completed this Spaceport News Summary. The Spaceport News writer is acknowledged, if noted in the Spaceport News article. Followup From the 2001 Spaceport News Summary There was a mistake on page 43 of the 2001 Spaceport News Summary, stating “From the October 26, 20001 Spaceport News”. It should read 2001 instead of 20001. Thanks a bunch Grant Cates!!!!! Page 1 From The January 5, 2002, Spaceport News On pages 1 and 7, “Diverse Shuttle missions set for new year”. Part of the article reads “On the heels of making space history in 2001 by completing the first phase of the International Space Station (ISS) assembly in orbit, the Space Shuttle will continue a string of space firsts during six missions planned for 2002…The coming year will be marked by the Shuttle fleet matriarch Columbia’s return to space on the first non-ISS Shuttle flight in more than two years. In addition, flights by Atlantis and Endeavour will haul more than 50 tons of additional components to the ISS… In 2002, NASA plans to break a record set only last year for the most spacewalks ever conducted in a single year. From Space Shuttles alone, 15 spacewalks are planned, coupled with seven spacewalks that are planned by crews from the International Space Station. In 2001, 18 total spacewalks were conducted — 12 from the Shuttle and six from the Station… When Columbia launches, it also will become the second Shuttle ever to fly with a new “glass cockpit,” installed as part of maintenance and modifications completed in 2001… In addition, the following flights are planned in 2002: STS-110, STS-111, STS-107, STS-112 and STS-113…”. On page 3, “Adopt-A-Child draws donations”. “Workers from the Joint Base Operations Support Contract (JBOSC) team of companies helped load Christmas toys for the Adopt-A-Child Program. The toys – purchased and donated by about 2,800 JBOSC employees – were presented Dec. 13 to Bob Morin, the District administrator for the Florida Dept. of Children and Families, at the department’s Titusville office. In four years of partnering with DCF, JBOSC employees have provided toys and clothing to 1,600 children.” Page 2 On page 7, “O’Keefe hopes to reinvigorate mission”, by Sean O’Keefe. Part of the story reads “As we begin a new year, I am honored to be here, working with you as NASA’s new Administrator… As we enter 2002, we are sensitive to the events of the past year. The senseless tragedy of Sept. 11 illustrates the fact that there’s no true way of telling what a new year will bring… As I move into this new role as NASA Administrator, we face a substantial “to do list.” It’s going to require a lot of hard work and some difficult decisions. But with you, I know we will reinvigorate the Agency’s mission of discovery and conquer new challenges…”. On page 8, “Former President visits KSC”. “Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, pictured with Center Director Roy Bridges, visited Kennedy Space Center Jan. 3. They received a commemorative plaque.” From The January 25, 2002, Spaceport News On page 3, “Bob Gray remembered for contributions”. A portion of the feature says “A pioneer in the Space Program and a NASA veteran of 28 years before his retirement in 1986, Dr. Robert H. Gray died Jan. 8… Dr. Gray joined NASA in October 1958 when the Vanguard Program personnel at the Naval Research Laboratory transferred to the space agency. His career included an unprecedented management of 147 unmanned Page 3 launches, five manned launches (Apollo and Skylab) and 26 additional unmanned missions. His career roles included director of the KSC Unmanned Launch Operations directorate, deputy director of KSC Launch Operations, manager of the KSC Shuttle Projects Office, and manager of Space Station and Advanced Projects… After his retirement from NASA, Gray acted as an aerospace consultant to various contractors, the European Space Agency and the government of Australia.” “Dr. Robert Gray is pictured near Launch Pad 39A after rollout of Columbia for STS-2 on Aug. 31, 1981.” On page 3, “Columbia Rollover”. “Overhead cranes are lowered toward the orbiter Columbia in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The cranes will lift the orbiter to a vertical position for stacking with the external tank and solid rocket boosters. Columbia is scheduled to be launched Feb. 28 on mission STS-109, a Hubble Servicing Mission. Among the goals of the mission are to service the HST, replace Solar Array 2, replace the Power Control Unit, remove the Faint Object Camera and install the Advanced Camera for Surveys.” Page 4 The following STS-109 mission patch is from Wikipedia. The mission patch description is from a spaceflight.nasa.gov website. “STS-109 is the fourth mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The mission patch depicts the Hubble Space Telescope and the Space Shuttle Columbia over the North American continent… Inside of HST’s aperture is a portrayal of the spectacular Hubble Deep Field Image, representing the billions of stars and galaxies in the Universe. This Deep Field Image symbolizes all the major discoveries made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope over the last ten years, and all those to come following the installation of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) by the crew of STS-109….”. On page 8, “30 years ago: Shuttle program set in motion”. A portion of the feature states “…On Jan. 5, 1972, former President Richard Nixon released a statement giving approval for the official launch of the Nation’s shuttle program. NASA was given word to immediately start developing a reusable Space Transportation System (STS) with plans to have an operational Shuttle by the end of the decade… These goals were realized as Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 12, 1981 to begin the first shuttle mission, STS-1… Since 1981: - Kennedy Space Center has supported 107 Space Shuttle launches; - Two hundred and sixty nine different crew members have flown on Shuttle missions including the most recent mission, STS-108; - Phase II of the International Space Station (ISS) is complete…; - There has been continuous human presence in space for more than a year…”. Page 5 “Thirty years ago, many ideas for a Space Shuttle were considered. A model and an artist’s conceptions of several of those ideas are pictured.” From The February 8, 2002, Spaceport News On page 7, “ELV Countdown”. “Kennedy Space Center employees and other passersby driving on Center on State Road 3 and the NASA Causeway now will be able to learn how many days left until the next Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) launch. A NASA, Boeing and SGS team worked to develop and install the signs to increase interest in and awareness of ELV launches. The signs are available for multiple use by NASA, commercial, and Air Force missions. HESSI is the first mission to use the sign.” On page 8, “Childcare center playground dedicated”. In part, the story says “The Child Development Center’s (CDC) newly renovated playground at Kennedy Space Center was officially open with a ribbon cutting Jan. 18… The new playground was Page 6 planned to facilitate the children’s education, said Noelle Bee, CDC administrator. It is broken up into three components that correspond with the ages of the children who use the equipment. The playground includes infant, toddler and preschool play areas… The Child Development Center serves children ages six weeks through five years of age, providing educational activities that actively engage children in the learning process…”. “…Noelle Bee, administrator of the Child Development Center, cuts the ribbon for the center’s upgraded playground while (from left) Maria Wilson, NASA Exchange operations manager; Connie Phillips, - infant lead; and Krista Shaffer, Exchange facilities manager, look on. The children are Joey DeLaPascua (left) and Jacob Ream.” From The February 22, 2002, Spaceport News On page 1, “Sean O’Keefe visits KSC”. “NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe (center) is pictured with Kennedy Space Center Director Roy Bridges (left) and Tip Talone (right), the director of International Space Station/Payload Processing, during O’Keefe’s visit to the Space Station Processing Facility. O’Keefe arrived at Kennedy Space Center Feb. 14 as part of his tour of agency field centers. He spoke to employees on Feb.15, sharing his ideas for taking the agency to a new level. A full report on his vision for the agency and his messages to KSC team members will be included in the March 8 issue of Spaceport News.” Page 7 On pages 1 and 6, “KSC takes part in Space Industry Day”.